Middle East snow and cold leaves several people dead

An ultra-orthodox Jewish man runs as snow falls next to Damascus gate in the old city of Jerusalem on January 10, 2013.

Rain, hail and snow are pounding the Middle East, causing several deaths and leaving thousands of Syrian refugees in freezing conditions, Deutsche Welle reported. It is the most severe storm the Middle East has suffered in a decade.

Those stranded by the weather include nearly 50 Iranians on their way home after being freed by Syrian rebels. The Iranians were stuck at the Damascus airport, Gulf News reported.

Two weather-related deaths were reported in Lebanon, and another four people died from flooding in the West Bank. Egypt officials say that five tourists were injured as they traveled through snow-covered mountain roads, BBC News reported.